Solitude and creative expression

Solitude or working alone is certainly not the only way to nourish creative projects. Many artists acknowledge the value of academies such as Juilliard, and less formal artist retreats and workshops, like Idyllwild.

Much of the writing and advice on creative expression and enhancing creativity – including this book – focuses on the inner journey of the individual.

But creating happens in a social context, and often depends on inspiration and support from others, on finding an audience, and getting financing from publishers and producers.

And creative work impacts other people, even worldwide.

But being creative can also be inhibited by others.

Dancer, choreographer and teacher Carol M. Press, Ed.D. writes in her book The Dancing Self that “Creativity’s profound effect affirms what binds us together as a species. Creativity contributes immeasurably to the health of humankind; before we understand and accept our differences, we must acknowledge and feel our common bonds…we are social animals, born to live in relation with others.”

She adds, “Anthropologist Ellen Dissanayake in her book Art and Intimacy: How the Arts Began asserts that art-making is an intrinsic human capacity that has psychobiological foundations. Through such creative endeavors people experience, express, and elaborate their common interests in finding meaning and competence in their lives.”

Sally Field has commented that “Actresses and other women in the industry need to have contact with each other. Not to tell sob stories, but to kick each other in the butt creatively.”

Other values of social connection include emotional support. Creative expression and personal growth often demand courage and help in dealing with fear.

Referring to a variety of research studies, Robert J. Maurer, PhD, a family therapist, writing consultant and instructor at UCLA, has commented in his classes and books that those people who are able to reach high levels of personal and professional success have a healthy acknowledgment of fear, and they also honor the need to be comforted and supported when extending outside comfort boundaries.

Some forms of creative expression – like acting and filmmaking – require collaborating with many other people. But sometimes an artist needs isolation or works best alone.

Writer Erica Jong has been quoted on the topic,

“Everyone has a talent. What is rare is the courage to nurture it in solitude and to follow the talent to the dark places where it leads.”

Photo at top: George Orwell chose to write “Nineteen Eighty-Four” while living in Barnhill (1946-1949), an abandoned farmhouse on the isle of Jura in the Inner Hebrides.

Following the success of his novel Animal Farm, he told his friend Arthur Koestler, “Everyone keeps coming at me, wanting me to lecture, to write commissioned booklets, to join this and that, etc – you don’t know how I pine to be free of it all and have time to think again.”

Many people have talked about the importance of place, work space and solitude for developing creative talents.

In her famous essay “A Room of One’s Own” in 1929, Virginia Woolf said that for women artists “a lock on the door means the power to think for oneself” and encouragement to develop the “habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what we think.”

Streznewski [strez NEFF skee] is also a Program Specialist in Gifted Education, and a poet and fiction writer.

In our interview, she talked about taking the time she needed to write. Her perspectives can also apply to other creative expression.

“I have four children, a husband and an elderly mother, and now grandchildren, and all of that is a pull of things you care about and want to do. You have to constantly pull back and say, My writing is important and I must do something for myself, and the world will have to fend for itself for a couple of hours.”

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Text from two sections: “Relationships – Connections” and “Environment“.
Read more About the book.

About Douglas Eby

Douglas Eby (M.A./Psychology) is author of the Talent Development Resources series of sites including High Ability; Highly Sensitive and Creative; The Creative Mind and others - which provide "Information and inspiration to enhance creativity and personal development." Also see Résumé.

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The Creative Mind is part of a series of sites by Douglas Eby - providing information and inspiration for exploring your creativity and personal development.